Switchboard signal



G. CARLSON.

SWITCHBOARD SIGNAL. APPLICATION msn Aus.22, 1919.

l 54,121,403. Patented July 4, 1922.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY naires stares PATENT GFFEQE. i

GUSTAF CARLSON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE STROMBERG- CARLSON TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SWITCHBOARD SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4,1922.

Application led August 22, 1919. Serial No. 319,089.

' so that aft-er the signalorsignals have been displayed to the operator they may be restored to their normal position by an adjustment of said key. As previously constructed these signals and their controlling means were expensive to manufacture and diiiicult to assemble and maintain in adjustment.

The present' invention provides signals and their Vcontrolling means which are simple in construction and so mounted that they cannot easily get out of adjustment, at the same time being easy to manufacture and assemble.

Other advantages not herein enumerated will appear from the detailed description and appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of the signals and their controlling means with the parts thereof in normal position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical view of a portion of the structure and shows the means for restoring the signals to normal position.

Fig; shows a lever or connecting link extending between the restoring key and the 'signals which it controls.

Fig. et is a top view of a portion of the structure showing the shield for the signal or shutter.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a mounting plate provided with apertures through which a double throw key 6, a depressible key 7 and mechanical signals or shutters 8, operate. This plate is also provided with. screw holes for receiving screws by which a spring assembly generally designated 9 is suspended in the brackets 10. Other brackets 11 are also secured by screws (but not shown) to the under side of the mounting plate and are designed to rigidly hold electromagnets 12 in a vertical position but in spaced relation to said mounting plate. Each electroni'agnet 12 is provided with an armature 13 pivoted at 14. The armature 13 has a strip of non-magnetic material 22 folded about it to prevent the armature from remaining in engagement with its electromagnet when the energizing force is removed. This strip has a portion 24 struck out to form a notch or catch, and a leaf spring 30 is attached thereto to normally hold the armature away from its electromagnet. The signal or the shutter 8 consists of a vertical plate provided with a downwardly extending latch 15 pivoted to the mounting plate at 16, and protected by a windowed guard 25. The vertical plate is provided with a rearwardly extending curved surface which is distinctively marked to render it readily 'visible The latch 15 of the signal when in normal position engages Vthe notch in the strip covering the armature 13.

The means for restoring the signal consists of a link or bar generally designated 16 which is mounted to slide horizontally in notches out in they brackets 10. This link is provided with struck-out lugs 17, 18 and 20, and with a stop 21 which will be further described. The lug 17 is engaged by a vertical rigid spring 18 mounted in the spring assemblyv which tends to keep the link 16 in the position shown in Fig. 1. The lug 18 is arranged to be engaged by the roller 19 of the double throw. key 6 when this key is moved toward the left, while the lugs 20 are arranged to engage the lower part of the vertical portion of the signals 8, and when the link is moved toward the right the shutters are rotated to their vertical or normal position. The downwardly extending portionA 21 serves as a stop when the link is moved toward the left and the shutters 8 limit the reverse movement of the link. It will be seen that the link is provided with an off-set portion to permit its movement without disturbing the re-ring key 7 and the double throw key 6.

It will loe understood that the present invention is to be used in connection ywith an operators cord circuit and that the va-v tion. These cii'cuits are Well knovvn to those skilled in tlieart and a description of their operation 'Willnot'be given here. y

The springs 22 oz'r' the spring assembly which ai'e operated when the key 6 is moved to the left, control contacts which establish a listeningcondition of the cord circuit, while the set of 'springs 23 Which are controlled when the 'key is adjusted to the right, close contacts to establish a ringing;`

condition oi' the telephone cord circuit.`

The depressible key V'i' is Lprovided with a cam 24 which controls `contact springs for establishing :a .so-called ring-back circuit. IVhile `the various springs ofthe-spring assembly have been described .as co-oper-ating in establishing the listening and ringing condition Aof the cordcircuit and inclosinp; the .ring-back circuit, they may be employed rfor other purposes or may be dierently constructed and arranged Without departing from the present invention.

In operation, when ``either, or both ot `the electromagnets L12 attract ltheir armatures 13,the latch 15 ofthe associated signal or shutter disengages the armature and rotates to the .right displaying the curved or indicatiiig` surface. VVhen'itis desired torestore fthe shutters to their vertical or normal position, the 'key 6 is moved toward the ilet't oi' Fig. 1, bringing the -rcller 19 into, engagement with the lug' 18, thereby moving,` theilink `16 toward `the right. The lugs 20 engage the lower part oi the vertical portion of Vthe shutters and rotate them totheir vertical ornorinal position. Then the key `6 `is released, the spring 18 moves the link toward the left as far as thestop 21 will permit, so that -the shutters Will not be `eiicuinbered by the lugs 20.

1. In combination, an operators key, an electromagnet and an armature adapted to be attracted thereby, a usignaladapted to occupy eithera displayed ora concealed position, `means' carriedby such `armature for `normally-lioldingsuchvsigignal in a concealed position, and means slidably actuated by `said operators key for moving` said signal from ,a i displayed toa concealed position.

Q. In combination, an `operators key, a

i vertically disposed -electromagnet :and an armature adapted to be attracted thereby, a

signal adapted to .occupy either a displayed or a concealed position, means carried by such armature `lfor normally holding suchv signal in a `concealed position, and 4means slidably actuatedbysuch operators `key for moving such signal froma displayed to a concealed position.

1*3. In combination, an operators key, a

vertically 'disposed electromagnet and a horizontal-ly disposed Aa'rniature .adapted to ibemattracted thereby, a signal adapted to oc- .cupy either-ia displayed or ra concealed position, means carried by such armature for normally holding such signal in a concealed position, and` means slidably actuated by such operators key for moving such signal trema displayed toa concealed position.

1. In combination, a key, an electromagnet and an armature adapted to be attracted thereby, a shutter, an indicator carried thereby and adapted to occupy either a dis- .played or Aa concealed position, means carunder the control of said key lto restoresaid signal toa 'concealed position..

6. In combination, a key,-an `electromagnet andan armature `controlled thereby, a signal mounted to yoccupy either-a displayed ora concealed position, means carried by said armature for normally yholdingsaid signalin a concealed position, and a member having portions engaging said key and signal, said member being Vslidably movable horizontally under the'control ofsaid key to restore said signal toaconcealed position.

7. In combination, a key, electromagnets land an armature for each electromagnet controlled thereby, a plurality of signals mounted to occupyeither a displayed-or a concealed position, means vcarried by each armature for normally holding.,i `one'o'f said Vsignals in a concealediposition, and a member having portions engaging said Akey and said signals, said member being slidably movable under the control of said key to frestore saidl signal to a concealed position.

8. In combination, a'key, anelectromagnet and anarniatuie adapted -to be attracted, thereby, a signal arrangedtooccupy either a displayed or a concealed position, Ameans carried by said armature for normally holding said signal ina concealed position, and a memberslidably mounted for `moving,r said signal from a displayed to a concealedpositioinand `.means for-operating said inember.

9. In an article ofthe class described, an

indicator mounted to rotate to a displayed or a concealed-position, an electromagnet having an armature, means controlled by said-armature for .latching said indicator in its concealed position, and a manually operable member mounted for rectilinear movenient for moving said indicator into a ,position to be latched by said means..

isc

10. In an article of the class described, an indicator mounted to rotate to a displayed or a concealed position, said indicator being provided With a latch, an electromagnet having an armature, said armature being provided with a catch arranged in one position to be engaged by said latch for holding said indicator in its concealed position and in another position of said armature for releasing said indicator into its displayed position, and a manually operable member mounted for rectilinear movement for moving said indicator into such a position that its latch engages said catch.

11. In an article of the class described, a mounting plate having an opening therein, an indicator mounted adjacent said opening to occupy a concealed or a displayed position, an electromagnet supported on said mounting plate adjacent said indicator, said electromagnet having an armature for holding said indicator in a concealed position and for releasing said indicator into its displayed position, brackets on said mounting plate, said brackets having apertures and a manually adjustable member movable through said apertures for moving said indicator into its concealed position.

12. In an article of the class described, a mounting plate having an opening therein, an indicator rotatably mounted adjacent said opening to occupy a displayed or a concealed position, said indicator being provided with a latch, an electromagnet having an armature, said armature having a catch to engage said latch and hold said indicator in one position, a spring assembly, apertured brackets for supporting said spring assembly on said mounting plate, a rotatable key supported on said mounting plate 'for actuating said spring assembly and a member movable in said apertures under the control of said key and provided with means tor moving said latch into engagement with said catch.

13. In an article of the class described, a mounting plate having an opening therein, an indicator mounted adjacent said opening to occupy a displayed or a concealed position, said indicator being provided with a latchr` an electromagnet having an armature, said armature having a catch to engage said latch and hold said indicator in one position, a spring assembly, apertured brackets for supporting said spring assembly on said mounting plate, a rotatable key supported on said mounting plate for actuating said spring assembly and a member movable in said apertures under the control of said key and provided with means which engage said key and said indicator whereby the operation ot said key Will restore said indicator in a position to be latched by said armature, said member being provided' with a laterally ollset portion so that said member may be positioned at one side of said key.

14k. In an article of the class described, an indicator mounted to rotate to a displayed or a concealed position, a projection on the lovvermost part of said indicator, an electromagnet having an armature, means controlled by said armature for latching said indicator in its concealed position, and a manually operated member mounted for rectilinear movement, said member being provided with means to engage said projection for moving said indicator into a position to be latched.

15. In an article of the class described, a mounting plate having a plurality of openings therein, an indicator adjacent to each opening, said indicator being arranged to occupy a concealed or a displayed position, an electromagnet supported adjacent to each indicator, said electromagnet having an armature for holding its indicator in a concealed position and for releasing said indicator into its displayed position, brackets on said mounting plate, said brackets having apertures and a manually adjusted member movable through said apertures to engage said indicators for moving the same into their concealed positions.

16. In an article of the class described, a frame, a signal pivoted on said frame, a projection on said signal at one side of said pivot, an indicating surface on said signal at the opposite side of said pivot, an electromagnet having an armature, means controlled by said armature for latching said indicator in its concealed position, and a manually operated member mounted for rectilinear movement for moving said signal into a position to be latched by said armature.

17. In an article of the class described, a a frame, arotatable key mounted on said frame, a spring assembly mounted adjacent to said key, a roller on said key positioned to actuate said spring assembly during certain adjustments of said key, an indicator mounted on said frame to rotate to a displayed or a concealed position, an electromagnet having an armature, means controlled by said armature for latching said indicator in its concealed position and a member mounted for rectilinear movement to move said indicator into a position to be latched by said means, said member being actuated by the roller on said key.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 20 day of Aug., A. D. 1919.

GUSTAF CARLSON. 

